recall 1 of 2

Definition of recallnext

recall

2 of 2

noun

1
as in recollection
a particular act or instance of recalling or the thing remembered his recall of the events of that turbulent time is significantly different from the accounts of other eyewitnesses

Synonyms & Similar Words

2

Synonym Chooser

How is the word recall distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of recall are recollect, remember, remind, and reminisce. While all these words mean "to bring an image or idea from the past into the mind," recall suggests an effort to bring back to mind and often to re-create in speech.

can't recall the words of the song

In what contexts can recollect take the place of recall?

The words recollect and recall are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, recollect implies a bringing back to mind what is lost or scattered.

as near as I can recollect

When can remember be used instead of recall?

The meanings of remember and recall largely overlap; however, remember implies a keeping in memory that may be effortless or unwilled.

remembers that day as though it were yesterday

When is it sensible to use remind instead of recall?

Although the words remind and recall have much in common, remind suggests a jogging of one's memory by an association or similarity.

that reminds me of a story

When could reminisce be used to replace recall?

While in some cases nearly identical to recall, reminisce implies a casual often nostalgic recalling of experiences long past and gone.

old college friends like to reminisce

How is the word recall distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of recall are recollect, remember, remind, and reminisce. While all these words mean "to bring an image or idea from the past into the mind," recall suggests an effort to bring back to mind and often to re-create in speech.

can't recall the words of the song

In what contexts can recollect take the place of recall?

The words recollect and recall are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, recollect implies a bringing back to mind what is lost or scattered.

as near as I can recollect

When can remember be used instead of recall?

The meanings of remember and recall largely overlap; however, remember implies a keeping in memory that may be effortless or unwilled.

remembers that day as though it were yesterday

When is it sensible to use remind instead of recall?

Although the words remind and recall have much in common, remind suggests a jogging of one's memory by an association or similarity.

that reminds me of a story

When could reminisce be used to replace recall?

While in some cases nearly identical to recall, reminisce implies a casual often nostalgic recalling of experiences long past and gone.

old college friends like to reminisce

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of recall
Verb
Stephanie Fitzpatrick recalled the emotional impact of seeing the family's plea. Shafiq Najib, ABC News, 10 Apr. 2026 Stieve recalled learning the news via text. Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 10 Apr. 2026
Noun
Following reports from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of a multi-state outbreak of E. coli infections linked to raw dairy products, Raw Farm has issued a voluntary recall notice for some of its products. Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 9 Apr. 2026 The recall involves Granitestone Diamond Pro Blue Sauté Pans, specifically. Molly Burford, Southern Living, 7 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for recall
Recent Examples of Synonyms for recall
Verb
  • Staff also remembered him as a constant source of support for coworkers — someone who checked in during difficult moments and made sure others were okay.
    Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2026
  • But for us Xennials and millennials in the crowd who remember the OG Warped Tour, the ska punk band’s set was a fun break from the more traditional Coachella fare.
    Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • This comes after Meghan's show With Love, Meghan, was canceled after two seasons.
    Meg Walters, InStyle, 12 Apr. 2026
  • Electronic musician Anyma is speaking out after his Coachella set was canceled due to severe weather condititions early Saturday morning.
    Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 12 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • This mirrors what clinicians already do manually — pulling together notes, lab results, and patient recollections to reconstruct a narrative.
    Celina Yong, STAT, 16 Apr. 2026
  • Participants retrieved richer, more vivid details, including recollections of specific places, emotions and sensory perceptions.
    Utkarsh Gupta, Scientific American, 15 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • For maximum comfort and quiet, Beats Studio Pro Over-ear Headphones deliver effective noise cancellation that noticeably reduces engine hum and cabin chatter, making movies, music, and podcasts far more enjoyable.
    Samantha Leal, Travel + Leisure, 18 Apr. 2026
  • The Archdiocese of Miami is making a desperate plea to the federal government, asking it to reconsider the cancellation of an $11 million contract with Catholic Charities that funds a shelter for unaccompanied migrant children in South Florida.
    Abby Dodge, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The three-block stretch, between 16th and 19th avenues, looks markedly different from just a year ago, when tents, abandoned cars and piles of trash crowded the street and sidewalks.
    Da Lin, CBS News, 18 Apr. 2026
  • What to read next The USSR withdraws troops from the border with Afghanistan, as Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev abandons invasion plans to focus his resources on the Space Race.
    Richard Edwards, Space.com, 17 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • There is a continued shortage of memory chips which has driven prices of that component to unprecedented highs.
    Arjun Kharpal, CNBC, 15 Apr. 2026
  • Straka has long been a Braves fan, his earliest memory a trip to Turner Field with his family around 8 years old.
    Gabriel Burns, AJC.com, 14 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The repeal eliminates all greenhouse gas emissions standards for cars and trucks and could unleash a broader undoing of climate regulations on stationary sources such as power plants and oil and gas facilities, experts say.
    CBS News, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026
  • In February, Zeldin announced a repeal of the endangerment finding, the legal basis by which the government regulates greenhouse gas emissions.
    Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 2 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his government are not completely scrapping the plan to hand the islands to Mauritius.
    Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 11 Apr. 2026
  • One of the final performances scheduled for the first night of Coachella has been scrapped due to severe weather conditions.
    Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 11 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Recall.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/recall. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.

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